Tom Brooking

PROFESSOR TOM BROOKING holds a personal chair in history at the University of Otago, where he has taught courses in New Zealand, Australian and British history, as well as political biography, since 1978. He specialises in environmental and political history, and the connections between Scotland and New Zealand. He served as regional chair for the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography and was president of the New Zealand Historical Association from 2011 to 2013.

Among Brooking's published works are six monographs, including a biography of Seddon's lieutenant John McKenzie (which was shortlisted for the Ernest Scott Prize in History) and two general histories of New Zealand, and five further edited or co-authored volumes, in addition to numerous articles and essays.

Brooking has been married to Trish for 41 years and has two children and three grandchildren. He lives in Dunedin.